22.4
PDI
10.1 mi
DISTANCE
3,486 ft
GAINED
6.5 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
INTRO
The Belvédère side of Furka Pass is one of the most iconic climbs in the Alps, rising 16.3 km (10.1 mi) from the Obergoms valley near Oberwald toward the famous Rhône Glacier and gaining 1,063 m (3,486 ft) at a 6.5% average grade to the 2,441 m (8,007 ft) summit.
The road ramps steadily through forest and past waterfalls to Gletsch, then tightens into the dramatic switchbacks the pass is known for, climbing past the shuttered Belvédère Hotel - a once-grand mountain inn that appeared in the 1964 James Bond film Goldfinger and has sat closed since 2015 - with the crevassed Rhône Glacier spilling down the opposite slope the whole way up. It's not brutally steep, but the combination of altitude, exposure, and scenery makes it feel epic from start to finish.
At the summit, the road crosses into canton Uri and joins a genuine cluster of legendary Alpine passes - Grimsel and Nufenen both rise from the same Obergoms valley, and the Gotthard massif is visible beyond. The pass is open only in summer, typically late May or June through October, and closes completely once the snow sets in.
PLAN YOUR ROUTE
We've partnered with Sherpa-Map.com to bring you the best route planning tool. With a PRO Membership you can use this climb as a reference when creating your route. Furka Pass from the Obergoms side averages 6.5% over 16.3 km (10.1 mi) - a manageable number that owes more to a long, steady middle section than to any flat stretches. The lower kilometers through forest to Gletsch are the gentlest part of the climb.
The grade picks up noticeably in the switchbacks above Gletsch, where the road works its way up past the Belvédère in a tight series of hairpins with pitches into the 9-10% range. The final kilometer to the 2,441 m (8,007 ft) summit eases back off as the road opens onto the pass itself.
Roadway: Fully paved and well maintained - this is a major Alpine touring route and one of Switzerland's best-known passes, kept in good condition throughout the season. The road is closed entirely in winter, typically from late October to late May, with exact opening and closing dates set year to year based on snowfall; check the pass status before planning an early- or late-season ride.
Traffic: Moderate to heavy in summer - this is a popular route for cars, tour buses, and especially motorcyclists, who treat the switchbacks above Gletsch as a destination in their own right. Early morning starts are noticeably quieter than midday.
Parking: There's parking at the Oberwald train station at the base, and additional pull-offs in Gletsch itself near the Rhône Glacier and the Belvédère. The Furka-Oberalp railway also runs a car-carrying train through the base tunnel between Oberwald and Realp, a useful backup if weather closes the pass itself.
A standard road bike is all you need - the surface is good the whole way and there's nothing technical about the climb itself. Given the altitude and exposure above Gletsch, pack layers even on a warm-looking summer day; it's noticeably colder and windier at 2,441 m than it is down in the valley.
Oberwald has a shop and restaurants at the base. The Belvédère itself has been closed since 2015, so don't count on it for water or food on the way up - carry what you need, or plan around the small snack options that operate seasonally near the Rhône Glacier ice grotto.
Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.
Obergoms villages like Oberwald and Münster have basic shops and guesthouses rather than a full tourist infrastructure; Fiesch, a few kilometers further down the valley, has a wider choice of hotels and restaurants if you need more than the upper valley offers.
The Obergoms is one of the great bases in the Alps for stringing together multiple legendary passes - Furka, Grimsel, and Nufenen all rise from within a few kilometers of each other here, so riders based in the valley often combine two or more in a single trip. See our Routes in the Area tool for how they connect.
The Rhône Glacier ice grotto near the summit, a tunnel cut into the glacier ice itself, is worth the short stop if you have the time - though the glacier has been retreating quickly enough that the grotto's exact location and access have to be rebuilt most years.
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iandhd
Beautiful climb especially if the weather is kind. The area around the abandoned Belvedere Hotel can be particularly busy with tourists (not something that most photos show)
